240 BRITISH RURAL LIFE AND LABOUR. 



" two taps running," the inferior " tap " being so poor 

 that practically it was not a marketable commodity. 



The amount of the " second tap " given to the men 

 varied somewhat in different districts. It was ordinarily 

 three or four pints a day, and was usually carried in 

 tiny casks called firkins. Women as well as men had 

 the cider " allowance," and boys also ; but the former 

 had less than the men, and the boys less again than the 

 women. The adult allowance was reckoned by the 

 farmers to be worth from eighteenpence to two shillings 

 a week ; but those best qualified to estimate impartially 

 considered that the value was not equal to so much. 

 Sometimes extra wages would be given in lieu of cider, 

 but it was alleged that the men as a rule preferred the 

 allowance of liquor. They had for so long a time become 

 used to the cider system that they were wedded to it. 



A good many people have condemned the cider truck 

 system, and have advocated its abolition by the 

 Legislature, contending, as we quite agree, that the 

 labourer should be paid the full value of his wages in 

 money and left to make his own provision for drink. 

 On the other side, it has been argued that with the poor 

 food of the peasants something stronger than water 

 something rather more " feeding " so to speak, " is 

 necessary. A certain proportion of the men, but not 

 a large one, are total abstainers from alcoholic liquors 

 of all kinds, and they drink either water or cold tea, 

 or cold cocoa perhaps. Good cider is considered to be 

 wholesome ; but the great evil of supplying any alco- 

 holic beverage as a part of the agricultural system is 

 the danger of indulgence to excess. 



